Originally opened on November 1, 1979, as Center for the Arts, the Singletary Center for the Arts is a fine arts complex located on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Nearly eight years after its opening, on April 16, 1987, Center for the Arts was dedicated to and renamed after the eighth president of the university, Dr. Otis A. Singletary, becoming henceforth known as the Singletary Center for the Arts.
As part of the College of Fine Arts and essential to the UK School of Music, the Singletary Center for the Arts’ mission is to host artistic, cultural and educational events for the university community, Lexington community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Additionally, the Singletary Center provides professional, full-service venues for the creation, practical application, and dissemination of artistic, cultural and educational expressions by international, national, regional, university, and student performers, artists, and speakers.
Since its opening in 1979, The Singletary Center for the Arts has served over 3.7 million patrons and has come to host over 400 events annually. Among these 400 annual events, Singletary plays host to a variety of musical performances spanning genres such as orchestral, choral, jazz, rock, world, and bluegrass music as well as dance, comedy, and lecture events. Some notable performers and speakers at Singletary include jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the Moscow Ballet, comedian Bill Burr, author David Sedaris, and many more.
Notable events Performer(s)/Lecturer(s)Event TypeYear of AppearanceThree 6 Mafia & Hypnotize Camp PosseMusic, Rap2000Herbie HancockMusic, Jazz2002Jane GoodallLecture2002WilcoMusic, Rock2003Yo La TengoMusic, Rock2003Nickel CreekMusic, Bluegrass/Americana2005Glenn KotcheMusic, Jazz2006Nels ClineMusic, Jazz2006B.B. KingMusic, Blues2007Wynton MarsalisMusic, Jazz2008Emmylou HarrisMusic, Americana2008Boyz II MenMusic, Pop2009Jean-Luc PontyMusic, Jazz2009David SanbornMusic, Jazz2010Joe LovanoMusic, Jazz2010Sarah ChangMusic, Classical2010Marvin HamlischMusic, Classical2010Beach BoysMusic, Rock 2010Chris IsaakMusic, Rock2010Nadja Salerno-SonnenbergMusic, Classical2010Zoran DukićMusic, Classical2011B-52'sMusic, New-Wave2011Imelda MayMusic, Rockabilly2011Pink MartiniMusic, Pop-Rock2011Travis PorterMusic, Hip-Hop2012Natasha ParemskiMusic, Classical2012Seth MeyersComedy2012Gabriel IglesiasComedy2012Andrew BirdMusic, Indie Rock2012Itzhak PerlmanMusic, Classical2012Paul GalbraithMusic, Classical2012The Birdland Big BandMusic, Jazz2012Ron WhiteComedy2012The Brian Setzer OrchestraMusic, Jazz2012David SedarisLecture2012Joel McHaleComedy2013Elena KaganLecture2013Mayer HawthorneMusic, Soul2013Arturo SandovalMusic, Jazz2013Lynn HarrellMusic, Classical2013NEEDTOBREATHEMusic, Rock2014Lang LangMusic, Classical2014Aziz AnsariComedy2014Morgan FreemanLecture2014Trombone ShortyMusic, Funk/Rock2014Dru HillMusic, R&B2014Diego GarciaMusic, Bluegrass2014Branford MarsalisMusic, Jazz2014Jim GaffiganComedy2015Beau WillimonLecture2015Joshua BellMusic, Classical2015Bill BurrComedy2015Ben RectorMusic, Pop-Rock2015Sybarite5Music, Classical2015John PrineMusic, Americana2015Nick OffermanComedy2016US Army Field Band & Soldiers ChorusMusic, Classical2016Joe BonamassaMusic, Jazz2016Ariel String QuartetMusic, Classical2017David RussellMusic, Classical2017Gordon LightfootMusic, Folk2017Conrad TaoMusic, Classical2017Viola DavisLecture2017Brian ReganComedy2018Berlin Philharmonic Wind QuintetMusic, Classical2019
References
External links UK Singletary Center for the Arts